Prison chief rejects governor’s claims

THE head of the prison service has flatly rejected claims by the resigning governor of the women’s prison that her views and communication over the jail were ignored.

Brian Purcell admitted that he and outgoing governor Kathleen McMahon had clashed over the release of inmates at the Dóchas Centre, but he insisted she had been consulted about the temporary release of prisoners and overcrowding at the north Dublin jail.

Both the two prison officials aired their grievances on RTÉ Radio yesterday, with Ms McMahon alleging that emails she sent raising her concerns about the introduction of bunk beds and other issues had not been responded to.